Vending machine



Aug. 13, 1929. s. LANDO VENDING MACHI NE Filed Dec. 10, @927 lmu 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR debasi'cgnolandcy Y ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1929. s N O 1,724,765

VENDING MACHINE le 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 In w w M i INVENTOR mnolandq' ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

', SEBASTIANO LANDO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application filed December 10, 1927. Serial No. 239,145.

My invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to newspaper or periodical 'coin controlled vending machines, and an object is to provide a coin controlled vending machine which can not be defrauded and may be readily operated to eject a newspaper or other article upon insertion of the proper coin or .coins therein.

- Further the invention provides a vending 1.0 machine which is only operable to vend or eject an article therefrom when a prede termined number .of coins have been lntroducedinto the machine. The invention also provides a newspaper 1.6 vending machine embodying a removable rack or follower for supporting and advancing the newspapers to a position where one may be ejected upon introduction of the requisite coin or check therein.

\Vith the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructions and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically referred to, claimed 25 and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the complete machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the 0 same illustrating the parts in normal position and a newspaper in position to be ejected;

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the parts in actuated position with the newspaper partially ejectedtherefrom.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectlonal vlew taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure -;5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the follower .01 rack embodied in the. invention as arranged within the box or container, the latter bein illustrated in broken lines and having parts thereof removed;

Figure 7 1s a view similar to Figure 4 but showing theparts in actuated position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective of the ejector roller embodied in the invention; Figure 9 is a similar view of the roller and associated mechanism; and

Figure 10 is a perspective of certain of the elements embodied in the coin control mechanism. 7

Referring to the invention in detail a rectangular box or receptacle .5 for containing newspapers and having a hinged cover 6 at its upper end, isprovided. In practice the newspapers or other analogous articles are placed in the container in a vertical positron so that the headline or important reading matter of the forwardmost article ma be. viewed through a longitudinally extendng window 7, provided in the front wall of the container at its upper end.

I To advance the articles to the front of the container, a follower is provided comprising a rock shaft 8 extending longitudinally of the rear wall of the container and journalled in bearings 9 attached thereto adjacent its upper end. A plurality of spaced parallel rods 10, rigid with the rock shaft, project at right angles therefrom. An arm 11 is pivoted intermediate its ends to the lower end of each of the rods 10 and are connected together adjacent their upper ends by a rod 12.

The rock shaft normally assumes a position where the rods 10 will be disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal, and the arms 11 arranged vertically behind the newspapers or other articles contained in the container. For this purpose a contractile spring 13 having one end anchored to one of the end walls of the container, as at 14, and its opposite end connected with an arm. 15, rigid with the rock shaft, is provided. It will be thus seen that the rack or follower is resiliently held against the papers to feed the same to the front wall of the container. Transverse slots 16 are provided in the bottom of the container to afford clearance for the lower ends of the arms 11 to permit the rack or follower to move transversely of the container.

' To singly eject the newspapers from the container, an ejector roller 16 extending longitudinally of the latter is journalled in bearings 17 attached to the bottom thereof, and is rotatable in a longitudinal slot 18 in 1,0,0 the front wall of the same. This roller is out awayor recessed longitudinally at one side, as indicated at 19, to afford a longitudinal shoulder 20 upon which the lower edge of the forwardmost newspaper rests, as 195 disclosed in Figure 2. A tubular bead 21 is carried by the roller at a point above the shoulder '20 to eliminate sharp edges and thereby obviate tearing of the newspapers as they are ejected through the slot 18. It

will be observed that upon rotation of the roller in a clockwise direction, the forwardmost newspaper will be lifted slightly and advanced through the slot 18 and dispose the lower edge of the former exteriorly of the container where it can be readily pulled therefrom. To facilitate grasping of the newspaper, the roller and the lower longitudinal edge of the front wall of the container are provided with coincident semicircular recesses 22 at a point centrally of their ends.

A check or coin controlled mechanism for governing the rotation of the ejector roller is provided. This mechanism comprises a plate 24 which is secured to the inner face of one of the end walls of the container by removable fastenings 25. A vertically disposed channel shaped coin guide 26 is arranged with its parallel flanges extended toward the plate, and welded or otherwise secured thereto. At its upper end the plate is provided with a coin entrance opening 27 which is located centrally of a larger opening 28 in the adjacent end wall of the container. A rack bar 29 is movable horizontally along the plate in U-shaped guides 30. An actuating shaft 31 passes transversely through this end wall of the container and the intermediate U-shaped guide. The inner end of the shaft projects laterally beyond this guide and carries a collar 32, the latter being keyed to the shaft. A laterally extending arm 33 is fixed to the collar 32 and has one end pivotally connected with a vertically disposed actuating rod 34. At one end the ejector roller carries a rearwardly extending arm 35 having pivotal connection with thelower end of the actuating rod. To the outer end of the actuating shaft a handle or grasping element 36 is attached whereby the mechanism is actuated to eject a newspaper from the container. To return the ejector roller to normal position, a helically coiled spring 2 is received on one end of the roller with one terminal engaged with one of the bearings 17, as indicated at 3, and its other terminal engaged with the arm 35, as indicated at 4.

A transverse slot 37, arranged in longitudinal alinement with the rack bar, is formed in the coin guide in which the rear end of the rack bar is slidable to engage a ,coin when sufficient coins have been received by the guide, as disclosed in Figure 2. Normally the rack bar is retained at the forward end or entrance of the slot by means of a contractile spring 38 having one end anchored to the rack bar, as at 39, and its opposite end anchored to one of the guides 30, as indicated at 40.

To control the movement of the rack bar in the direction to engage the uppermost coin contained in the coin guide, a segmental latch plate 41 is pivotally mounted upon the plate 24 to swing about a horizontal axis 42, and is movable in a recess 43 upon the inner face of the rack bar. Normally the latch plate is retained in a position where its rear edge will lie in the path of the rear wall 44 of the recess 43, so that upon attempt to actuate the mechanism without introduction of the proper coins, this'rear wall will engage the latch plate and prevent actuation of the rack bar. A semi-circular recess or notch 45 is provided in the rear lower edge of the latch plate, which when the latch plate is rocked'about its axis in one direction, registers with the recess 43 and permits the rack bar to be projected to engage the uppermost coin in the coin guide.

For the purpose of rocking the latch plate, to bring the recess or notch 45 therein in registration with the recess 43, a coin actuated lever 46, normally extending parallel to the coin guide to one side of its rear longitudinal edge, is pivotally attached to a bracket 47 carried by the lower end of the plate 24. A horizontally disposed longitudinally shiftable link 48 is operatively connected with the lever 46 and the latch plate. For this purpose the link 48 terminates in perforated cars 49 which are pivotally received on laterally projecting pins 50, carried by the upper end of the lever 46 and the upper forward edge of the latch plate, respectively.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the uppermost coin in the coin guide bridges the slot 37, and to cause this coin to make operative contact with the lever 46, a laterally extending rectangular coin engaging head 51 is carried by the lever 46 at a point in horizontal alinement with the slot 37 and is formed with a coin receiving longitudinal groove 52 in its inner face. Normally this head projects within a vertically extending longitudinal slot 53 formed in the rear longitudinal edge of the coin guide and intersecting the slot 37. A horizontally disposed bracket 54 offset from the plate 24 andhaving one end attached thereto, as at 55, coacts with this plate in retaining the head 52 against lateral movement towards or away from the plate. The lever 46 and the latch plate are urged to normal position by a con tractile spring 56 having one end anchored to the pin 50 of the latch plate, and its opposite end anchored to the plate 24, as at 57.

To permit the coin controlled mechanism to be actuated only when a sufficient number of coins have been deposited within the coin guide, it is necessary to retain a predetermined number of coins therein, and for this purpose a coin stop 58, projecting laterally from the lever 46 and bevelled at its forward end, is carried thereby. A recess 59 is formed in the rear longitudinal edge of the coin guide adjacent its lower end in horizontal alinement with the stop, and normally receives the same to engage the lowermost coin and thereby support all of them within the guide. In the event that it is desired to have the coin controlled mechanism operate by a lesser number of coins, the coin stop will be secured on the lever 46 at a point to engage a second recess 59 located above the first mentioned recess "59.

A suitable coin receptacle 60 is supported within the container directly below the coin guide.

A suitable lock 61 is associated with the hinged cover 6 to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access into the interior of the container.

Assuming the container or box contains a number of newspapers and other analogous objects, the operation of the coin controlled mechanism is as follows:

Upon insertion of a number of coins sufficient to dispose the uppermost one at a-point where it bridges the slot 37 in the coin guide, the mechanism is prepared for actuation. Engagement by the rack bar with the coin, incident to the rotation of the handle 36, shifts the coin laterally against the head 51 to shift the lever 46 away from the coin guide. Incident to this movement of the lever 46 the latch plate 41 is swung on its axis to dispose its notch or recess 45 in registration with the recess 43 in the rack bar, permitting the latter to be shifted the entire length of the slot 37. At this time the coins in the guide, except the one engaged with the head 51, are permitted to fall into the coin receptacle due to the fact that the coin stop is now to one side of its recess 59. By means of the operative connections between the ejector roller and the collar 32, the ejector roller is rotated sufiiciently to carry the lower edge of the 'forwardmost newspaper through the-slot 18 where it can be grasped and wholly withdrawn. Upon releaseofthe handle 36, the-ejector roller and movable parts of the coin controlled mechanism are returned to normal position. Incident to the return of the lever 46to normal position the head moves the single coin,;now remaining in the coin guide, forwardly,.per- 'mittingit to dropand be supported y the coin stop which at this time lies within its recess 59.

What is claimed is:

1. In-a coinoontrolled-mechanism, a vertically arranged coin guide for the reception of a plurality of coins, a manuallyshiftable coin engagingelement, latch means normally retaining the manually shiftable element against movement but operable to permit actuation of the'latter when the coin guide cont-ains the requisite number of coins, and aspring connected with the latch means and coin engaging element for returning said parts'to normal position.

2. In combination a vending machine, a vertically arranged coin guide, a longitudinally manually shiftable actuating element normally disposed to one side of the coin guide, a pivoted element for supporting a coin in the guide in position to be engaged by the manually shiftable element, a latch normally retaining the manually shiftable element against movement and operable to free such element upon engagement of the latter with the coin, and an operative connection between the pivoted element and latch, and a spring urging the pivoted element and latch to normal position.

3. In a check controlled mechanism, a vertically arranged tubular check guide having a slot in one side thereof, a laterally movable check engaging element supported at one side of the check guide, a longitudinally shiftable actuating element supported in longitudinal alinement with the slot and normally disposed at one side thereof, a latch normally engaged with the actuating element, and operatix c connection between the latch and laterally movable check engaging element whereby upon pushing of a check contained in the guide against the check actuated element the latch will be disengaged from the actuating element.

4. In a coin controlled mechanism, a vertically arranged plate, a coin guide extending vertically of the same, a pivoted element arranged to one side of the coin guide, a manually operable actuating element carried by the plate and movable towards and away from the pivoted element, a pivoted latch engaging the actuating element to prevent full actuating movement thereof towards the pivoted element and having operative connection with the latter so that upon interpositioning of a coin between the pivoted element and the actuating element the former will be actuated to release the latch and permit full actuating movement of the actuatingelement, and resilient means normally urging the pivoted-element and latch element to normal position.

5. In a coin controlled mechanism, acoin guide, a pivoted element supported at one side thereof, a longitudinally shiftable member arranged at the opposite side of the guide andmovable into the latter, a. pivoted latch element normally holding the longitudinally movable member, a rigid connection'having its end pivoted to the latch element and pivoted element respectively, and manually operable means for shifting the longitudinally movable member into the coin guide whereby to press a coin against the pivoted element whereby to swing the latch element to a position where the longitudinally movable member will be free for full operative movement.

6. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a coin guide, a pivotedelementsupported at one side thereof, a longitudinally shiftable member arranged at the opposite side of the guide and movable into the latter, a pivoted latch element normally holding the longitudinally movable member, a rigid connection having its ends pivoted to the latch element and pivoted elements respectively, and manually operable means for shifting the longitudinally movable member into the coin guide whereby to press a coin against-the pivoted element whereby to swing the latch element to a position where the longitudinally movable member will be free for full operative movement, and a resilient connection connected with the latch element to normally urge the latter together with the pivoted element to normal position.

7. In a coin controlled mechanism, a coin guide, a lever normally extending parallel to one side of the guide andhaving its lower end pivotally supported, a coin engaging head carried by the lever and projecting into the coin guide, a manually shiftable member supported at the opposite side of the guide in horizontal alignment with the head and operable to move a coin against said head, a latch element normally holding the manually operable member against movement, and an operative connection between the lever and latch element so that upon movement of the lever in one direction the latch element will be rendered inactive to permit actuation of the manually operable member.

8. In a coin controlled mechanism, a coin guide, a lever normally extending parallel to one side 01": the guide and having its lower end pivotally supported, a coin engaging head carried by the lever and projecting into the coin guide, a manually shiftable member supported at the opposite side of the guide in horizontal alignment with the head and operable to move a coin against said head, a latch elementnormally holding the manually operable member against movement and an operative connection between the lever and latch element so that upon movement of the lever in one direction the latch element will be rendered inactive to permit actuation of the manually operable member, and a stop projecting from the lever into the coin guide to initially prevent coins from passing therethrough.

9. In a coin controlled mechanism, a coin guide, a lever normally extending parallel to one side of the guide and having its lower end pivotally supported, a coin engaging head carried by the lever and projecting into the coin guide, a manually shiftable member supported at the opposite side of the guide in horizontal alignment with the head and operable to move a coin against said head, a latch element normally holding the manually operable member against movement, and an operative connection between the lever and latch element so that upon movement of the lever in one direction the latch element will be rendered inactive to permit actuation of the manually operable member, and a stop projecting from the lever into the coin guide to initiallyprevent coins from passing therethrough, and a spring normally urging the latch element to operative position.

'10. In a coin controlled mechanism, a coin guide, a pivoted element arranged to one side thereof a longitudinally movable member supported at the opposite side of the coin guide and having a recess in one lace, a segmental latch plate pivotally supported adjacent the longitudinally movable member and normally lying within the recess to hold such member against movement, a link connected with-the pivoted element and latch plate, and a manually operable rotatable element operatively engaging the longitudinally shiftable member and operable to initially move, such member a sufficient distance to push a coin against the pivoted element and thereby actuate the latch plate to a position where the longitudinally movable member may move its full distance of travel.

11. In a coin controlled apparatus, a supporting plate, a coin guide attached thereto, a lever pivotally supported to one side of the coin guide and normally extending parallel thereto, a coin engaging head carried by the lever and projecting into the coin guide, a horizontally-disposed rack bar supported on the plate and movable towards and away from the head, a manually rotatable gear meshing with the rack bar, and a latch element pivotally supported on the plate and normally holding the rack bar against movement and an operative connection between the latch element and lever whereupon movementv of such lever away from the coin guide incident to a coin pushed against the head by therack bar the latch element will be rendered inactive to permit full actuation of the manually operable gear.

12. In a coin controlled apparatus, a supporting plate, a coin guide attached thereto, a lever pivotally supported to one side of the coin guide and normally extending parallel thereto, a coin engaging head carried by the lever and projecting into the coin guide, a horizontally disposed rack bar supported on the plate and movable towards and away from the head, a manually rotatable gear meshing with the rack bar, a latch element pivotally supported on the plate and normally holding the rack bar against movement, and an operative connection between the latch element and lever whereupon movement of such lever away from the coin guide incident to a coin pushed against the head of the rack bar the latch element will be rendered inactive to permit lull actuation of the manually operable gear, and a finger projecting from the lever below the head and lying within the coin guide so as to support a sufficient number of coins in the guide and to cause the uppermost coins to lie between the rack bar and head.

13. In a coin controlled apparatus, a supporting plate, a coin guide attached thereto, a lever pivotally supported to one side of the coin guide and normally extending parallel thereto, a coin engaging head carried by the lever and projecting into the coin guide, a horizontally disposed rack bar supported on the plate and movable towards and away from the head, a manually rotatable gear meshing with the rack bar, a latch element pivotally supported on the plate and normally holding the rack bar against movement, an operative connection between the latch element and lever whereupon movement of such lever awa from the coin guide incident to a coin pus ed against the head of the rack bar the latch element will be rendered inactive to permit full actuation of the manually operable gear, and a finger projecting from the lever below the head and lying within the coin guide so as to support a sufficient number of coins in the guideand to cause the uppermost coins to lie between the rack bar and head, and a contractile spring having one end connected to the plate with the opposite end to the latch element and normally holding the latter in active position.

14. In a vending machine, a coin guide, a lever supported to one side thereof and normally extending parallel therewith, a manually shiftable member arranged at the opposite side of the coin guide and movable into the latter, a latch normally holding the manually shiftable member and having operative connection with the lever, a coin engaging head carried by the lever against which a coin is pushed by the manually shiftable member to actuate the latch to released position, and a finger longitudinally adjustable on the lever and projecting into the the coin guide to normally support a predetermined number of coins in the latter.

Signed at Chicago in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 5th day of Decemher, A. D. 1927.

SEBASTIANO LANDO. 

